Closure



May 18 1943 G. MONNET cLosURE Filed June 6, 1940 INVENTOR. GEORGES MoN/ver e ATTORNEYS.

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Patented May 18, 1943 CLOSURE Georges Monnet, New York, N. Y., assigner to Guardian Merchandising Corporatmn, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Quebec,

' Canada Application June 6, 1940, Serial No. 339,058

(Cl. 21E-76) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to closures and refers more particularly to closures, caps or covers adapted to close the outflow openings of bottles, tubes and other containers.

It is customary to close the opening of a compressible tube containing a pasty substance or of a bottle containing a liquid by means of a cap having an inner helical groove and screwed upon the outer screw threads provided upon the neck of the tube or bottle.

, These caps are usually rather small and every day experience shows that they can be easily lost and that it is fairly inconvenient to replace them. In many instances the user neglects to screw the caps suiiiciently tightly upon the necks of tubes and bottles carried in bags, pockets or suitcases, with the result that the contents of the containers spill out and cause considerable damage.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a closure which is permanently connected to its container and which can be conveniently and easily manipulated to provide an outflow passage for the contents of the container, and to close this passage. L

Another object is to provide a permanent leakproof closure which can be conveniently manipulated to open and close anoutflow passage and which will electively prevent any escape of paste, liquid or gas while the passage is closed.

A further object is the provision of an airtight and gas tight closure which is so constructed that an increase in pressure within the container carrying the closure will automatically increase the sealing capacity of the closure.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course ofV the following speciiication.

In realizing the objects of the present invention it was found advisable to provide a closure having an inner closure member consisting of an elastic material, such as rubber or cork, and firmly mounted upon the mouth of the container opening. 'I'his elastic closure member is prevented lfrom being turned relatively to the container by interengaging ribs and grooves, by glue or by any other suitable means. The elastic closure member is provided with a passage which is eccentrically located relatively to the central axis of the container opening, and which preferably, is limited by surfaces converging in an outwardly direction, namely, in the direction of the inner pressure which may be developed within the container. The elastic closure member and the adjacent part of the mouth of the container, are enclosed by a hard cap which is in engagement with the elastic closure member and is rotatable relatively thereto. The cap is provided with an opening adapted to coincide with the passage of the elastic closure member.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top view of a closure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, some parts being shown as broken off.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of a somewhat differently constructed closure.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top view of a closure of a somewhat different type; and

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figures l and 2 of the drawing show 'the neck 'I of a container made of glass, although obviously the container may consist of a collapsible tin tube or the like. The neck 'I encloses an outflow passage 8 and is provided with an annular, bead 9.

The bead 9 has an upper surface or front surface I0 carrying ribs II which extend radially upon the bead. The bead projects outwardly beyond the neck 1 thus forming a lower'annular surface I2 carrying ribs I3 which are smaller in height and length than the ribs II.

An elastic closure member I4 fits over the container neck 'I and is permanently connected therewith. The closure member I4 may be made of cork, rubber or any other suitable elastic material and it comprises an inner cylindrical portion I5 tting tightly into the passage 8 of the container l, and a flange portion I6 situated over the surface I0 oi the bead 9. Y

The closure member I4 has a passage Il which is eccentrically located in relation tothe central axis of the passage '8. The surfaces I8 enclosing the passage II are preferably conical in form and converge outwardly in the directionl away from the passage 8.

The closure member I 4 is iirmly and permanently connected with the container l, so that it .cannot turn relatively thereto. This may be accomplished by pressing the portion I4 ofthe closure member I4 rmly into the passage 8 and causing the ribs II of the bead 9 to project into and compress the ange portion I6.

If necessary, any suitable additional means may be used to establish a permanent connection between the bead 9 and the Iclosure member The bead 9 and the closure member I4 are covered by a metallic cover or cap I9, the inner surfaces of which are in engagement with the elastic closure member I4. The cover I9 has a skirt portion 28 provided with an inwardly bent portion 2| which is adapted to slide over the ribs I3 and which may have inner grooves fitting over thek ribs I3. The cap may be made of any hard or rigid unelastic material. The skirt of the cover I9 may be hexagonal in form, as.

shown in Figure 1, to facilitate the turning of" the cover.

The cover I9 is provided with an opening 22 which is preferably slightly larger than the ad-l jacent end of the passage I1, `andwhich is adapted to be situated directly over the passage I1 in a certain position of the cover I9.

It is apparent that in the `position shown in` Figures 1 and 2, no liquid or gas situated within the container 1 will escape through the closure, since the passage I1 isl covered by the cap- I9. Anyv inner pressure developed within the container will be exerted upon. the converging surfaces I8 of the passage I1 and a-component part of this pressure will be directed. parallel to the surfaces I8, thereby pressing the elastic closure member I4 more tightly against the metallic cover I9.

Thus an increase in pressure will automatically result in an increased tightness` of the closure. Y

In order to remove the contents of the container, the user turns the cover I9 until its opening 22 is situated over the passage I1. Dueto the engagement of the small ribs I3 with the end portion 2| of the skirt 2.0, the turning of the cover I9 is carried out stepwise, and the danger of an accidental opening of the closure is effectively eliminated.

The device shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a container having. a bead 3l provided The inner elastic closure4 with radial ribs 32. member 33 has a large hollow portion 34 enclosed by inner converging surfaces 35. Thebead hollow portion, 34 of the closurer member 33. andY the opening 31, `and t0 interrupt this connec-v tion. The curved shape of the surfaces 35 furthers the engagement between the member 33 and the cover 36 should pressure be developed within the container 30.

In the construction. shown in. Figures 5 and 6l the container 40 is providedY with a converging conical neck portion 41 a cylindricalneck. portion 42 and a bead 43 having an upper surface 44, a smaller lower surface 45 and a. conical converging inner surface 45.

The elastic closure member 41 has an` inner conical surface 48 contacting the surface 46 of the container. The conical surfaces 46 and 48 increase the tightness of theclosure to a considerable extent, should inner pressure develop within the container.

The ribs 49 carried by the bead 43 press against the closure member 41 and prevent it from turning. A metallic rotary cover 50 is situated over which would diminish friction between the closure member 41v and the cap 50, or the layer 53 may consist of foil, paper or the like.

However, the impregnating substance should not interfere with the engagement of the elastic closure member 41 with the rotary cover 50.

the closure member 41 and the bead 43 and is It is apparent that the specic illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by'way of limitation, and that the structuresr above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope of the present invention. All of such modifications and variations are to be includedwithin the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a closure, an. elasticl closure member firmly tting into a beaded flange-like mouth of a container, and. a rotary hard cap covering said' elastic closure member andsaid flange-likemouth and having innerl surfaces contacting. outer surfaces of said elastic closurev member, said elastic closure member having a passage formed therein which is enclosed byl outwardly converging surfaces, said cap having an opening formed therein and adapted to communicate with said passage,

said iiange-like mouth-having a surface comprising' a, pluralityV of radially extending ribs and' grooves. formed between said ribs, said cap having a skirt having grooves formed therein and engaging said ribs.

2. In a closure having. aclosure element and a' cap; an outwardly'projecting bead enclosing the mouth ofa container andl including a` front-surface and a: reary surface;l aplurality of radial ribs upon said front surface for engagement' with said closure element, and a plurality of radialribs upon. said rear surface which are shorter and smaller than the first-mentioned ribs for contacting said cap.

3. The combination of a container having an outwardly' projecting bead enclosing the mouth of a container and including a front surface and a rear surface, a plurality of. ribs upon said front surface and a plurality of shorter andv smaller ribs upon said rear surface; with an elastic closure member firmly fitting into` said mouth and comprising a iiange'portion covering said front surface and engaging the first-mentioned ribs, and a rotary hardcapcoveri'n'g said elastic closure member and having inner surfaces contacting outerv surfaces of said' elastic closure member, said elastic closure member having a conical passage formed. therein, said cap including a polygonal skirt enclosing said bead and having an inwardly :bentv portion contacting the second-mentionedV ribs, said cap having an opening formed therein and adapted to communicate with said passage.

4. The combination of'a container having an outwardly projectingbead enclosing the mouth of a container andi including a front surfacel and a rear surface, a plurality of ribs upon said rear surface; with an elastic closure member firmly fitting into said mouth, anda rotary capl covering said elastic closurel member and having inner surfaces contacting outer surfaces of' said elastic closure member, saidf elastic closuremember having a passage with: outwardly converging walls formed therein', saidi cap: includinga skirt enclosing said bead. and having an inwardly bent portion contacting said ribs, said cap having an opening, formed. therein. and. adapted to communicateL withv said'v passage: in. a. predetermined position of said cap.

' GEGRGES MONNET. 

